The upper house of Michigan’s state legislature has passed a bill authorizing absentee voting privileges for “any qualified or registered elector who cannot attend the polls on account of the tenets of his religion.”

The measure is intended to insure the franchise of Orthodox Jews who might be prevented from voting in Michigan’s primary election this fall, since the election coincides with the first day of Rosh Eashanah. As passed by the state Senate, the bill limits the privilege to 1950 only. Approval by the House is expected shortly.